Royals manager Ned Yost likes to characterize designated hitter Billy Butler as a "hitter who can hit good pitching" and for validation points to Butler's success against Detroit ace Justin Verlander.

Butler nicked Verlander for three hits in Monday's 6-2 loss, which left him with a .396 career average (21 for 53) against a pitcher who looms as a strong candidate to repeat as the American League's Cy Young Award winner. (Verlander was also the 2011 MVP.)

"Some guys are good hitters but can't hit good pitching," Yost said. "They're good hitters, but when you face the elite guys with the overpowering fastballs, they're not going to hit much. Billy, like (Detroit's Miguel) Cabrera, can hit everybody."